Webinar agenda Immigrant Futures: Regional Strategies for Northern Attraction and Retention 1. Presentation by Christina Zefi, former Research Analyst, Northern Policy Institute 2. Presentation by Cathy Woodbeck, Executive Director, Thunder Bay Multicultural Association 3. Presentation by Meg Ramore, Project Coordinator, North Bay Local Immigration Partnership 4. Q&A moderated by Kim Turner , Cities of Migration, Ryerson University (Toronto, Canada) Webinar recording will be available on the website: www.citiesofmigration.ca
Northern Attraction Series Community Strategies By: Christina Zefi
Cumulated Population Growth Since 1996 by District NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO 30% Ontario, 25.1% 25% 20% Manitoulin, 16.1% 15% 10% Parry Sound, 7.3% 5% Greater Sudbury, -1.5% 0% Nipissing, -2.0% -5% Algoma, -9.1% -10% Cochrane, -14.5% -15% Timiskaming, -14.7% Sudbury, -15.4% -20% 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 Source: Statistics Canada, Census, various years
Cumulated Population Growth Since 1996 by District NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO 30% 25% Ontario, 25.1% 20% 15% 10% 5% Kenora, 3.5% 0% -5% Thunder Bay, -7.3% -10% Rainy River, -13.2% -15% -20% 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 Source: Statistics Canada, Census, various years
Research Results: Key players expressed a shared interest for a collaborative and regional approach to newcomer attraction Regional Approaches to Immigration: The Southwest Regional Immigration Committee by Laurie Block, Rural Development Institute, 2010 Towns in Manitoba: Community Leaders: Identified Challenges: 1. Virden Economic Development Each community has unique • • 2. Melita Officers challenges to overcome 3. Boissevain Community Development and goals to achieve • 4. Rivers Corporations Defensive postures or “home • 5. Souris City Councilors turf” issues • 6. Pipestone Manitoba Agricultural, Food • 7. Deloraine and Rural Initiative
Research Results: Regional Approaches to Immigration “The Southwest Regional Immigration Committee” Laurie Block, Rural Development Institute, 2010 1. Prepare for newcomers 2. Involve the greater community through raising awareness on newcomer initiatives 3. Plan and execute population growth strategies by marketing community pull factors 4. Tap into existing populations of immigrants and create a “lessons learned” to address any challenges settling future newcomers 5. Assess the population growth strategies to find out what is working 6. Involve the business community
Research Results: Regional Approaches to Immigration: The Southwest Regional Immigration Committee by Laurie Block, Rural Development Institute, 2010 Source: Statistics Canada, Census Program, 2011 & 2016
Research Results: In order to break down employment barriers for immigrants and international students, small to medium enterprises need more support. Option 1: Dedicate 2 – 4 federal or provincial employees to run workshops or meetings for employers to assist them with navigating the OINP to access international talent. Option 2: “Train the Trainers”: Local Chambers of Commerce, community volunteers, or economic development officers can be trained to assist businesses in completing paperwork related to accessing OINP programs.
Research Results: In order to break down employment barriers for immigrants and international students, small to medium enterprises need more support. National Connector Program 1. Local immigrant serving organizations and post-secondary career centers refer employment-ready participants ( Connectees ) to the program. 2. Program staff coach the Connectee and match them with a Connector in their field. 1. The Connector and Connectee meet face-to-face. After the meeting, the Connector links the participant to at least three other people in their business network. Those three people also refer three more people to the Connectee.
Research Results: There is a need to actively and aggressively market Northern Ontario’s strengths, diversity, and potential.
Conclusion: The suggested strategies are meant to add to the great work already taking place in the region to attract and retain newcomers. Northwestern Immigration Portal: “Talk Too” chat function • Thunder Bay Multicultural Association: Online language classes • and settlement services Post-Secondary Institutions: Immigration advisors, training • programs, and international agents International Recruitment Fairs • Secondary Migration • Official Languages Action Plan: Enhance Francophone minority • communities through immigration
Thank you. Merci. Miigwetch. Marci. www.northernpolicy.ca northernpolicy Northern Policy Monthly e- / NorthernPolicy @NorthernPolicy Institute newsletter
Northwestern Ontario is larger than the combined size of the United Kingdom and France with a widely dispersed population of 250,000 in 36 communities. +
Plenty of employment, not enough employees. Unemployment numbers and participation rates compare well with the provincial and national averages. Unemployment at 5.1% in 2018 and a participation rate of 64%, compared to provincial numbers of 5.6 and 64.5. Business succession – owners wanting to retire. Growing economies and sectors in the region such as bio- medical and mining. Population growth is non-existent. Require 5,000 people per year over the next 10 years. We are acutely aware of the demographic pressures we are facing. More deaths than births since 2007 and low immigration =low growth
Loss of savings if they stay in high cost of living cities without sufficient employment income. Housing availability and the hope of purchasing a home. Way of life choices such as house vs apartment, owning rather than renting etc. Employment for both adults in a family. Availability of services for newcomers such as language acquisition, settlement, and employment. Rural vs urban living.
Northern Policy Institute Source: Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0090-01 Labour force characteristics by province, territory and economic region, annual
Retention Rate After 3 Years Since Admission in Northeast and Northwest 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% 60% 55% 50% 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 NE 3 year since admission NW 3 year since admission Northern Policy Institute Source: Table #43-10-0013-01, Statistics Canada
Northern Policy Institute Source: Statistics Canada, 2016 Census, Community Data Program Custom Tabulations
Cost of living and cost of housing. Availability of programs and services – Language classes - Day Care - settlement services Employment – employers becoming more involved in the recruitment of newcomers. No wrong door practice developed. All services and agencies are aware of all programs available and case manage together. Community involvement, desire to help and mentor newcomers.
We have been working hard on consolidating committees and reducing silos. There is a concerted effort to work together as a community and as a region to attract people. LIP - 36 municipalities participate in our Immigration Partnership with representatives from municipal government, economic development, agencies or service providers in the community and a number of interested businesses and social service offices. Success of the Refugee Resettlement Assistance Program Employment Connections RAP clients assisted with employment search – 98 Number of RAP clients currently employed as a result – 82
How do you make sense of it all and bring them together in one cohesive community plan? Quarter back, Conductor or Bus driver You need a connected coordinator and active participants on the small group. Champions in the various sectors – economic development - settlement - employment - housing
Employment Housing Education Health Care Social Services Welcoming Community recreation Settlement and Integration Municipalities All are involved in the growth strategy.
Developing an inventory of existing physical and social aspects of each community throughout the Northwest is being conducted to identify areas to be expanded in order to accommodate population growth. Developing individual community plans on how best to respond to those gaps. Develop a series of region wide or community cluster plans that will guide the overall approach to worker attraction (rolling up the local plans to ensure maximizing of resources). Begin the process of assisting each community in the retention aspects of growing the community or areas.
Job aggregator 90% employment success Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association NOMA partnership Immigration Portal Go To Thunder Bay RNIP
Cathy Woodbeck TBMA (807) 345-0551 cathyw@thunderbay.org
Community Loan Program Presentation Immigrant Futures: Regional Strategies for Northern Attraction and Retention Community Loan Program Presentation Meg Ramore (pronouns: she/her) North Bay & Area Local Immigration Partnership
Recommend
More recommend
